<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Arizona made a statement at the West Coast Qualifier this past week, showing out across every division and level. From gold finishes to hard-fought battles, AZ teams proved they can compete—and win—on a national stage.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Several squads rose to the occasion and three came home with bids, accomplishing the ultimate goal. Here's a look at the Arizona teams that got it done in the USA and Liberty divisions.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Took Care of Bidness</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Club One 15 Platinum (15 USA)</strong> </h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p> This squad has a lot to be proud of, finishing 2nd out of 63 teams and securing a bid in the process. They handled the Gold bracket with confidence, consistently rising to the moment against top competition.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Time and time again, they found a way to separate themselves—often grinding through tight first sets before pulling away and making a statement in the second. Even in the championship, they pushed the eventual winner to three hard-fought sets, proving just how competitive they are at this level.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This is a team trending in the right direction, and we're excited to see how they close out the season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Standouts: </strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='921928' first='Kennedy' last='Flynn']</strong> was dynamite in the middle, bringing impact on both sides of the ball. Her blocking came up big in key moments, creating momentum shifts that fueled her team, while her ability to attack the corners made her a consistent scoring threat. She plays with power, fire, and passion, and her presence at the net was a major factor in her team's deep run.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934498' first='Ellie' last='Stones']</strong> delivered some massive swings all week, making her a constant offensive threat. She does an excellent job moving the ball around the court, reading the defense, and finding scoring opportunities with purpose. Her athleticism and jump allow her to stay one step ahead of the block, and her ability to mix power with smart shot selection makes her incredibly difficult to stop. She was dominant throughout the weekend, and her high-level decision-making paid off in a big way.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Omni 17N1 (17 Liberty) </h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>I might be a little biased—I do coach this team—but they've given me every reason to talk about them. They earned this, and they deserve the recognition.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Day 1 didn't come easy. They went 1-2 and barely kept themselves in contention through a tight tie. Day 2, they responded—going 2-1, landing in another three-way tie, and finding a way to come out on top to earn the #8 seed in Gold heading into Day 3.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>That's where the real story began. They faced the #1 seed—a team they had already lost to—and flipped the script with a huge three-set upset. After falling in the semifinals, they had one final opportunity to secure a bid for 3rd… and they delivered, taking down a team they had previously lost to on Day 2. If that doesn't define grit, resilience, and belief, nothing does.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Standouts: </strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914128' first='Kensley' last='Green'] </strong>played phenomenal defense all weekend long, consistently anchoring her team in the back row. What stood out most was her ability to adjust on Day 3—staying composed, focused, and locked in on the goal of earning a bid. She never gave up on a play, bringing relentless effort and stability when it mattered most—and she delivered.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881962' first='Leiiani' last='Jones']</strong> always found a way to score. Even after getting blocked, she made adjustments—mixing in smart shots, tooling the block, and staying one step ahead of the defense. She played with undeniable passion and determination, and you could feel how much she wanted it. That mindset paid off in big moments.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} -->
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sky 17 Blue (17 USA)</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>With tough competition across the board, this team proved they can hang with the best. We've always believed they're one of the strongest 17s teams in Arizona, and this weekend they backed it up with a statement 2nd-place finish.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Entering Day 3 as the #4 seed, they took care of business in round one, sweeping the #5 seed. They followed it up with a huge three-set upset over the #1 seed in the semifinals, carrying serious momentum into the finals. Though they came up just short, the way they competed and the statement they made in California speaks volumes.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Standouts: </strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913216' first='Sophia' last='Christiano']</strong> made all the right decisions throughout the tournament, consistently putting her team in the best position to succeed. She had a clear feel for who her go-to hitters were in every moment and delivered quality, hittable balls that allowed them to produce. Her work ethic and leadership stood out, anchoring her team and playing a major role in their strong results.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='823467' first='Danika' last='Mcdonald']</strong> was a force at the net, making her presence felt with key blocks and constant offensive availability. She transitioned quickly, worked relentlessly to be an option, and stayed engaged in every phase of the play. Her effort and consistency made her a reliable and impactful middle throughout the tournament.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Noteworthy Teams</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Club One 16 Titanium</strong> — This group made an impressive run to the semifinals, finishing 4th and just falling short of a bid. They competed with grit and toughness all weekend, pulling off multiple upsets along the way. The way they battled and believed in themselves was something to be proud of—this team showed they can hang with anyone.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Omni 16N1</strong> — This team was dominant in the 16 Liberty division, controlling play and showing their strength throughout the weekend. They carried that momentum into Gold, battling hard before finishing 4th. What stood out most was their fight and determination—this group is far from done making a statement.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Aspire 15 Alpha</strong> — Aspire played high-level volleyball all weekend long. Even falling just short of a bid, their resilience and refusal to back down against top competition was impressive. They continue to challenge themselves at the highest level, and it's clear this team has more in store—we're excited to see what's next.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Atomic 17 Smack Premier</strong> — We loved watching this group step up and compete in the USA division. Finishing 6th, they proved they can absolutely hang at this level and be a factor. With a Liberty bid already secured, they're continuing to push for more, and we're looking forward to how they close out their season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Livewire 16 Prime</strong> — Livewire held strong to their #1 seed, battling through tight matches before falling in a tough three-set heartbreaker in the first round of Gold. This team is right there—we know it's only a matter of time before they secure a bid, and we can't wait to celebrate when they do.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Atomic 16 Smack Premier</strong> — This squad made a strong push in the 16 USA division, finishing 6th and just short of a bid. They competed at a high level and proved they can hang with top competition. With the momentum and experience gained this weekend, this group is set up to make a serious impact as they close out the season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:separator -->
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<!-- /wp:separator -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Up next is the AZNQ! We look forward to covering it all. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>As always, send us your schedules and be sure to follow us on Instagram!</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>@PrepDigArizona, @CoachMarissaMorah, and @PrepDigAnthony.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
Arizona made a statement at the West Coast Qualifier this past week, showing out across every division and level. From gold finishes to hard-fought battles, AZ teams proved they can compete—and win—on a national stage.
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in